Ive read on this forum that pioneer has troubleshooting problems when it comes to audio return channel and its difficult to use and set up. the onkyo is straight forward and easier to use with audyssey and a simpler remote. onkyo is the best bang for your buck when it comes to dollar signs and performance specs/feautures. when it comes to reliability and longevity ill give it to pioneer even though onkyo offers a 2 yr manufacture warranty while the pioneer only offers 1 year. i read more and more problems on onkyos then pioneer. make sure you dont have the infamous onkyo hdmi "handshake issue" or an over heating issue and the customer service sucks.

if it were me id get an onkyo Amp if i have nice mid range speakers, and a pioneer if i have home theater in a box speakers or entry level speakers. as the onkyo plays better sound quality and is "THX"
the 1021 is less upgradable as it can only offer 7.1 1 sub and the onkyo is 7.2 2 subs. as well the onkyo is a network home theater receiver meaning its windows 7 compatible DLNA. plug in or wirelessly connect your pc to it and you can get video, picture, and audio all in surround sound when browsing. the pioneer has airplay and onkyo doesnt but you can just buy an apple tv and plug it to the amp no biggie. bottum line its your personal preference. for me id take onkyo by a slim margin, id only get a pioneer if you asked me onkyo vs pioneer "elite series" line up. theirs a big difference with pioneers av receivers and the state of the are "elite series"http://www.pioneerelectronics.ca/POC...lite-Receivers

Ive read on this forum that pioneer has troubleshooting problems when it comes to audio return channel and its difficult to use and set up

I agree, I never could get mine going...

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the onkyo is straight forward and easier to use with audyssey and a simpler remote.

pretty much agree here also

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onkyo is the best bang for your buck when it comes to dollar signs and performance specs/feautures.

depending on the set of features you're looking for, could be true.

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when it comes to reliability and longevity ill give it to pioneer even though onkyo offers a 2 yr manufacture warranty while the pioneer only offers 1 year.

I agree

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i read more and more problems on onkyos then pioneer. make sure you dont have the infamous onkyo hdmi "handshake issue" or an over heating issue and the customer service sucks.

Although you can't know ahead of time if you will have handshake issue, they will pretty much be out of the box. I have never owned an Onkyo but from what I've read, you are right in saying that customer service in not to par.

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if it were me id get an onkyo Amp if i have nice mid range speakers, and a pioneer if i have home theater in a box speakers or entry level speakers. as the onkyo plays better sound quality and is "THX"

this, I don't get Although THX had some virtues back in the day, it has become somewhat insignificant today. Sure you get a few more DSP modes but with the advancement of room correction software and the advancement in audio format (lossless), and from Dolby and DTS, it has become somewhat of a marketing tool. You don't have to believe me, just ask the question on this forum.

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the 1021 is less upgradable as it can only offer 7.1 1 sub and the onkyo is 7.2 2 subs.

receivers are not really "upgradable". Sure you can do a firmware update to correct some issues but that's it. The .2 is merely an internal "Y" adapter. You can achieve the same with a good 'ol "Y" adapter from Radio Shack. That is what I was doing with my Pioneer. Heck you can put 15 "Y" adapters is you want 30 subs.

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as well the onkyo is a network home theater receiver meaning its windows 7 compatible DLNA. plug in or wirelessly connect your pc to it and you can get video, picture, and audio all in surround sound when browsing.

You won't get nothing if you plug in your pc in the receiver's ethernet port. But you can plug your receiver to your home network and have access to service in the likes of Pandora, Rhapsody as well as the ability to do firmware upgrades. You are absolutely right on the DLNA and it is a nice feature. But then again, my $100 sony BD player is DLNA compatible so it's all the same.

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bottom line its your personal preference. for me id take onkyo by a slim margin, id only get a pioneer if you asked me onkyo vs pioneer "elite series" line up. theirs a big difference with pioneers av receivers and the state of the are "elite series"http://www.pioneerelectronics.ca/POC...lite-Receivers

very true, it is a matter of preference. I would also take the Onkyo by a slim margin but for me, it would be because I prefer Audyssey.

Great post and I hope that the OP as lots of tool to make a decision from now.

I can't help but wonder if all the mfg.'s would have concentrated on giving us better room correction,better amps in 5.1 configuration and better remotes than all the other gimmicks that seem to be tossed in. The best thing they have done in years was to make them firmware upgradable via ethernet.
As an installer I have yet to get a client to put more than 5.1 in, They keep adding channels now 9.2 and making the amp output weaker just pull up any brands previous models and look at lab measurements with Pioneer 55/57 being somewhat of an exception.

The antimode 8033 is a great product and yes, it can be used with MCCAC and YPAO. What you do is run the 8033 first and then run the receiver's room correction. The only downside is that in the US, the antimode costs almost $400 unless you find it used. I also would not buy the 809 with antimode as you could get an Anthem with ARC at that point. That said, I have found that XT does a better job than antimode in some rooms and vice versa.

" You won't get nothing if you plug in your pc in the receiver's ethernet port. But you can plug your receiver to your home network and have access to service in the likes of Pandora, Rhapsody as well as the ability to do firmware upgrades. You are absolutely right on the DLNA and it is a nice feature. But then again, my $100 sony BD player is DLNA compatible so it's all the same. "

i ran an hdmi cable to the htrc 370 amp and it played what ever i had displayed on my wireless pc on my tv with audio & video in surround sound ALL CH.

" You won't get nothing if you plug in your pc in the receiver's ethernet port. But you can plug your receiver to your home network and have access to service in the likes of Pandora, Rhapsody as well as the ability to do firmware upgrades. You are absolutely right on the DLNA and it is a nice feature. But then again, my $100 sony BD player is DLNA compatible so it's all the same. "

i ran an hdmi cable to the htrc 370 amp and it played what ever i had displayed on my wireless pc on my tv with audio & video in surround sound ALL CH.

I think that Inf123 is in Canada. Having said that if one can get the deal your mentioning taxes in, that is sweeeeeeeeeeeet.

To the OP, How much do they want for the 2311? I bought mine at FS for $4x0 which makes it a good deal. But it may not have the options you want.

If it was me, I'd get the Denon. If you do go with the Onkyo, I strongly suggest to try to get some FS xtended warranty. Just wheel and deal on the price to compensate for the price of the xtended warranty. Worth it to me, you just deal with them instead of the well known less than stellar Onkyo customer service. The Pioneer is a solid machine but it can be finicky with HDMI passthrough and ARC and Airplay. Read the 1021 thread for details.

I think that Inf123 is in Canada. Having said that if one can get the deal your mentioning taxes in, that is sweeeeeeeeeeeet.

To the OP, How much do they want for the 2311? I bought mine at FS for $4x0 which makes it a good deal. But it may not have the options you want.

If it was me, I'd get the Denon. If you do go with the Onkyo, I strongly suggest to try to get some FS xtended warranty. Just wheel and deal on the price to compensate for the price of the xtended warranty. Worth it to me, you just deal with them instead of the well known less than stellar Onkyo customer service. The Pioneer is a solid machine but it can be finicky with HDMI passthrough and ARC and Airplay. Read the 1021 thread for details.

cheers

ya im in canada, does the place selling the 1121 for 450 american ship to canada? I can get the 2311 for $580
the onkyo is from visions that's why I can't use my gift card there, and the 1126(Future shop model - I believe has the same specs as 1121) is going for $770 so that's out of my price range.

I went online to U.S. appliance which is owned by ABC Warehouse and they had awsome prices on TX NR-609, VSX line, and Denon. I printed it out and took the price of 338.99 to ABC and they beat it as advertised at 337.00. Not too shabby for a VSX 1021-k.

I went online to U.S. appliance which is owned by ABC Warehouse and they had awsome prices on TX NR-609, VSX line, and Denon. I printed it out and took the price of 338.99 to ABC and they beat it as advertised at 337.00. Not too shabby for a VSX 1021-k.

Before buying a Onkyo, read their forums and see all the problems with their HDMI boards and heat issues. I just sent my HT-RC360 for repair after having it for 14 months. Can someone tell me the best mid range AVR for the money?